As it is 2 ½ years since I last judged Wires, most of the dogs in this
numerically good entry were new to me. On the last occasion, I was
concerned about poor hind movement in the breed. This seems to have
improved, with most dogs able to move with parallel action viewed going
away, however, this improvement has been at the expense of front
construction and movement, I feel. This time, there were a proportion
of dogs displaying close front action coming towards me. There were
also a lot of forward placed, upright shoulders and short upper arms in
evidence. Presentation also left a lot to be desired. There were far
too many dogs shown in profuse, shaggy coat, reminiscent of a Shetland
pony in winter coat, and with ragged underlines and far too much hair on
their legs. This made movement difficult to assess properly and cost
some otherwise lovely dogs higher awards. My hands were also completely
filthy by the end of judging. This is, after all, a dog show and
presentation should come into the equation. Another cause for concern
were two bitches with faulty mouths. One puppy had ingrowing lower
canines, and an otherwise lovely adult bitch who I thought would be my
class winner, had an overshot jaw. That said, my main winners pleased
me enormously and I could have watched the dog and bitch CC winners move
all day.

Minor Puppy Dog (1, 1 abs)

Puppy Dog (1)

1st
Bates & Maes-Jones’ DEROCHAISE VERSACE

Harsh-coated dark brindle with lovely elegant outline and so well
constructed throughout. Masculine head with keen expression, carried
proudly on good reach of neck. Good shoulders, top and underline and
well angulated hindquarters. Kept his lovely outline both in stance and
profile movement and was parallel in up and back movement. Looked
immature in the dog challenge against the older exhibits, but I predict
a very bright future for this boy. Pleased to award Best Puppy In Breed
against his lovely litter sister. Lucky breeder to have two such
promising pups in the one litter.

Junior Dog (4)

1st
Vine’s CISHELVINE CAUGHT OUT

Lengthy brindle with quality conformation. Appealing head and eye.
Lengthy, elegant neck runs seamlessly into firm, level topline which he
held in profile on the move. Well angulated quarters complete the
picture. Strode out freely round the ring to take this class. For my
personal preference I would like slightly less length of body, but a
very pleasing dog overall.

2nd
Shaw’s TENDROW MOONDANCE

More the balance of length to height that I was looking for, but
couldn’t match 1st for shoulder placement or topline, having more
upright, forward placed shoulders and consequent dip in backline. Harsh
dark brindle coat, but it was a bit too profuse and in need of tidying
up. Good bone and substance throughout.

3rd
Arthurs’ HOTOTO’S BARK AT THE MOON

Post Graduate Dog (3)

1st
Vine’s DEROCHAISE JUSTIFIED FOR CISHELVINE

Well-bodied dark brindle, who is slightly lower-stationed than I prefer,
but could not be denied 1st place for his overall quality of
conformation and free movement. A little untidy in front action coming
towards me, but held his outline well in profile. Well boned throughout
and has good balanced fore and hind angulation.

2nd
Carter’s ROMANCHI STARGAZER

Somewhat anxious in demeanour as was 3rd in class. Elegant light
brindle with excellent texture coat that was well presented. Pleasing
head and expression, good length neck and well laid shoulders. Not
quite the hind angulation of 1st and as a consequence runs up slightly
in profile on the move, although he strode out freely round the ring.

3rd
Baldwin’s AVENTINE SCOTTS BLUFF

Limit Dog (7, 1 abs)

1st
Wharton & Pughe’s DEROCHAISE BLACK TARQUIN

Litter brother to 1st in Post Grad and the third of four exhibits from
the Derochaise kennel to win a class today. Shares many of the same
qualities as his brother, but is slightly more elegant overall and holds
a firmer topline going round. He is correct for size and catches the
eye immediately for his lovely outline in both stance and profile
movement. Well angulated behind and moves parallel going away, but is
slightly close in front action coming towards and has rather
flat-footed, splayed forefeet, sadly.

2nd
Sorensen’s JETHARD JUST JIVE

Compact, well boned dark brindle with attractive head and expression,
good body shape, top and underline. Balanced angulation in fore and
hindquarters and holds his shape well in profile on the move, but
unfortunately as he gets into his stride up goes his tail which is
carried vertically at times and this detracted from his overall outline.

3rd
Langridge’s TENDROW ELBERTA

Open Dog (6, 1 abs)

1st
McPhearson & Paterson’s CH. FRANSIN BRASILIAN TP PANETTONE

This light brindle was my reserve CC winner when I judged the breed at
Crufts ‘14 and I was delighted to have the opportunity to judge him
again as a fully mature Champion. Correct for length to height ratio
and has good ground clearance. Attractive, well proportioned head with
keen alert expression. Good reach of neck flowing into well placed
shoulders and good length of upper arm, enabling him to stand and move
absolutely true in front. Lovely body shape with firm, level backline
and pleasing sweep of underline to complement. Well angulated
hindquarters complete the picture. Comes into his own on the move and
covers the ground with free-striding, effortless action in profile and
displays parallel action up and back. Beautifully presented and handled
to advantage. Delighted on this occasion to award CC and Best of Breed.

2nd
McCalmont’s CH. SILVAE FARRAGO

This beautifully presented brindle has immediate appeal for his lovely
well balanced outline and impressive free-striding profile action around
the ring. Correct for size and length to height ratio. Also has good
ground clearance and excellent hind angulation. Masculine well
proportioned head, good reach of neck and shoulder placement, however he
is a shade short in upper arm and displays a little too much crook in
forelegs viewed head on and this was reflected in his front action
coming towards me, where he moved a bit too close. Reserve CC.

3rd
Phillips’ CH. WIRETAP HERE I AM

Minor Puppy Bitch (4)

A difficult class to judge as these immature young pups were all at
different stages of development and I’m sure will look a lot better in a
few months’ time.

1st
Warren’s WAGSFORD JENNIFER

Promising dark brindle let down by poor coat presentation. Held the
best outline on the move viewed in profile and underneath all that hair
was an attractive, feminine head, good body shape and well angulated
hindquarters. Movement was erratic, but this is to be expected in a
young pup.

2nd
Pughe & Fraser’s BYSTOCK AMARETTI

Total contrast in coat presentation. This exhibit was immaculate and
had a lovely harsh textured light brindle coat. She is of different
type to 1st being slighter in build and a little shorter in body.
Looked good stacked, but just rising behind in profile on the move at
the moment. Hopefully her topline will settle as she grows on.
Preferred the head type of 1st. Moved with parallel action up and back.

3rd
May’s WAGGINGTON AVA

Puppy Bitch (5)

1st
Bates & Maes-Jones’ DEROCHAISE ELUSIA

Easy winner of this rather mixed class. Litter sister to 1st in puppy
dog and very like him for type and construction. Beautifully presented
dark brindle with attractive head, reachy neck flowing seamlessly into
well placed shoulder and displaying plenty of forechest as a
consequence. Well angulated hindquarters to match. Holds her shape
well in profile on the move and covers the ground freely, displaying
parallel up and back action in addition. Best Bitch Puppy. Just
preferred the harsher texture coat and firmer topline of her litter
brother in the Best Puppy Challenge. Two super quality pups.

2nd
Dean’s EX SENTIA SHE’S THE ONE FOR BRONTILLOW

Lengthy light brindle with much softer coat. Has a reasonably good
topline and well angulated hindquarters, but is straight in shoulder and
consequently lacks forechest in comparison with 1st. Moved steadily in
profile and kept her outline well. A little unsure on the table
examination.

3rd
Davies’ EX SENTIA SOMETHING NEW FOR ATAHIRA

Junior Bitch (5)

1st
Dean’s BRONTILLOW GRACE DARLING

Harsh coated dark brindle I have admired from the ringside. Thankfully,
appears to have come through an awkward “teenage” phase to regain the
quality she had as a pup. Is so sound and well balanced with good bone
and substance throughout, yet retaining her femininity. Attractive head
with dark eye and keen expression. Good reach of neck and well laid
shoulders. Excellent body shape and firm topline which she holds at all
times in stance and on the move. Well angulated hindquarters are in
balance with her forequarters. Moves steadily keeping her outline and
is sound out and back. Pleased to award Reserve CC in a line-up of
quality bitches.

2nd
Wharton’s GREYHAYNE BLACK VELVET

Just out of puppy and giving away a bit in age and level of maturity in
this class. Another I have admired from the ringside. Well balanced
light brindle with lovely harsh, well presented coat. Attractive head,
good reach of neck and well constructed forequarters. Lovely sweep of
underline and moderately angulated hindquarters. Displays good ground
clearance and free striding movement in profile and is parallel up and
back.

3rd
Phillips’ TENDROW DANCING ON A DREAM AT CLIPPERDOWN

Post Graduate Bitch (10, 2 abs)

Hotly contested class of quality bitches.

1st
Phillips’ TENDROW A PAGE IN TIME

Royally bred, beautiful red bitch of quality on top form today. Lovely
size (not too big) and displays an elegant, well balanced outline with
correct ground clearance, holding her outline in profile on the move.
On the table, everything flowed under my hands. Attractive feminine
head with lovely dark eye. Good length neck merges into well laid
shoulders and lovely body shape with sweeping underline and firm topline.
Well angulated hindquarters in balance with front angulation to complete
the picture. Stands and moves absolutely true in front and behind and
steps out freely with effortless side gait. Pleased to award her second
CC in as many weeks. Hope the third comes along soon.

2nd
Hastings’ LESANDNIC SLEEPYTIME

Totally different type quality light brindle with excellent, correct
harsh-textured coat which was one of the best in this entry today. Has
immediate appeal for me as she is sired by a Larhjelm dog related to my
own two Norwegian imports. Correct size, and displaying the desired
length to height ratio and good ground clearance. She is very
satisfying to go over on the table, having a good reach of neck, well
laid shoulders and pleasing body shape and good hind angulation. Moves
with parallel action out and back but in profile movement her topline
just rises slightly over the hindquarters.

3rd
Wharton’s LADY GISELLE OF GREYHAYNE

Limit Bitch (7, 1 abs)

1st
McPhearson & Paterson’s BRUMBERHILL BELISSIMA

Beautifully presented brindle with good coat sired by my Dog CC winner,
and he has passed on many of his qualities. Just slightly larger size
than I prefer, but that said she has much to admire. Attractive
feminine head, carried proudly on good length neck, firm level topline
that never falters in stance or movement, well angulated fore and
hindquarters and sound movement. Covers the ground with freedom and
good length of stride in profile holding her outline and is parallel up
and back.

2nd
Gibson’s ALLFREYS STERNCHEN ALRISHA

Judged this much smaller size dark brindle as a puppy and still admire
her. So well balanced with well laid shoulders, lovely firm topline and
well angulated hindquarters. Although she moves out freely in profile,
today she was holding her head slightly low and forwards which could
have been due to the noisy conditions in the hall. This slightly
spoiled her overall outline sadly. Very true mover out and back.

3rd
Vine’s GRAVETYE KISS ME KATE CISHELVINE

Open Bitch (7, 1 abs)

1st
Warren’s WAGSFORD LYDIA

This bitch has to be gone over to appreciate her many virtues. She is
beautifully balanced with a lovely outline. Feminine head carried on
good reach of neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Firm topline and
good flow of underline to complement. Moderately angulated
hindquarters. Moves out steadily and freely in profile and holds her
shape at all times. Coat not at its best however, and needs hair taking
off her forelegs and underline as this is spoiling her outline and
making her front movement difficult to assess.

2nd
Paterson’s AMBIESQUE AGNA

Another bitch I have judged before and still admire. Extremely well
presented dark brindle coat. Attractive head, good reach of neck and
balanced fore and hind angulation. Lovely overall body shape with
flowing underline. Topline is firm, but just has a tendency to rise
slightly over the quarters when moving in profile. Moves freely round
the ring and is sound up and back.